Transfer assembly for use with container printing machines

ABSTRACT

A transfer assembly for continuously removing printed cans from the mandrels of a container printing machine and placing the cans on a drying oven conveyor, the transfer assembly including a plurality of pneumatically actuated can holders mounted on an endless conveyor and laterally reciprocable thereon, whereby each can holder is moved laterally in one direction to remove a printed can from a mandrel, and then in the opposite direction to place the can on the drying oven conveyor.

United States Patent Inventors Enn Sirvet Ridgefield; Edward J. Whelan,Hasbrouck Heights; John P. Skrypek, Clifton, NJ. Appl. No. 750,182 FiledAug. 5, 1968 Patented Mar. 2, 1971 Assignee Sun Chemical Corporation NewYork, N.Y.

TRANSFER ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH CONTAINER PRINTING MACHINES 15 Claims, 9Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 214/1, 302/2, 198/22, 294/64 Int. Cl B65g 47/34 Field of Search302/2; 198/20, 22, 22 (B), 25; 214/1 (B2), 1 (B3); 294/64 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,004,492 6/1935 McNamara et a1.l98/22(B) 3,219,380 11/1965 Carliss 294/64 3,300,019 1/1967 Brigham eta]... l98/22(B) 3,302,803 2/1967 Mooney 2l4/1(B1) PrimaryExaminer-Andres l-l. Nielsen Attorneys-Gardner J. OBoyle and James G.OBoyle ABSTRACT: A transfer assembly for continuously removing printedcans from the mandrels of a container printing machine and placing thecans on a drying oven conveyor, the transfer assembly including aplurality of pneumatically actuated can holders mounted on an endlessconveyor and laterally reciprocable thereon, whereby each can holder ismoved laterally in one direction to remove a printed can from a mandrel,and then in the opposite direction to place the can on the drying ovenconveyor.

PATEN JEU m 21,971

sum 1 [1F 4 r Ira! r @{M e-e-e INVENTORS ENN SIRVET EDWARD J. WHELANJOHN P. SKRYPEK ATTORNEYS PATEQNI'ED mm 2197:

sumanra' TRANSFER ASSEMBLY FOR USE W 1TH CGNTAINER PRINTING MACHINESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The transfer assembly of thepresentinvention is adapted to be employed with the continuously rotatablemandrel assembly disclosed in our copending application Ser. No. 739,049filed Jun. 21, 1968, wherein there is described a plurality of cancarrying mandrels constructed and arranged to follow a path parallel tothe impression surface of a printing cylinder during the printing cycle,whereby the mandrel assembly may be continuously, rather thanintermittently, rotated to thereby increase the number of cans which canbe decorated during a given period oftime.

I-Ieretofore, container decorating machines, having intermittentlyrotatable mandrel carriers, have employed. intermittently rotatabletransfer assemblies for transferring a decorated container from themandrel carrier to a drying oven conveyor. Thus, when the mandrelcarrier is stopped to allow a container to be decorated at the printingstation, a preceding decorated container is being simultaneouslytransferred to the drying oven conveyor.

With the recent development of high-speed decorating machines of thetype disclosed in our above-identified copending application, whereinthe mandrel carrier is continuously rotated, it is necessary to providea transfer assembly for continuously, rather than intermittently,transferring decorated cans from the mandrel carrier to the drying ovenconveyor. I

While transfer assemblies have been developed for use with continuouslyrotatable mandrel carriers, the particular can holders employed in thesetransfer assemblies limit theuse thereof for transferring coated cansfrom the drying ovenconveyorto the mandrel carrier for transport to theprinting stations. In one proposed arrangement, each can holdercomprises a pair of cam-actuated, coacting gripper members of jaws whichare adapted to grip the dried, coated, outer surface of the can.Obviously, to use such can gripping members for transferring a wetcoated or printed can from the mandrel carrier to the drying ovenconveyor would result in the smearing or scratching of the can surface.

To overcome the inherent disadvantagesof intermittently operatingtransfer assemblies and continuously operating transfer assembliesprovided with gripping jaw-type can holders, the transfer assembly ofthe present invention has been devised which comprises, essentially, anendless conveyor having a plurality of can holder carriages laterallyslidable thereon. Each can holder is in communication with a vacuum/airpressure manifold, whereby each decorated can is drawn from itsrespective mandrel, .carried to the drying oven conveyor and blownthereon. Duringthe transfer of the cans from the mandrel carrier to theoven drying conveyonthe can holders engage the. bottom of each can tothereby prevent any smearing or scratching of the outer surfaceof thecan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, side.elevational view of the transfer assembly of the present inventionillustrating its :structural relationship to the mandrel carrier anddrying ovenconveyor;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of "thetransfer assembly of the present invention, illustrating the FIG. 7 is asectional, endelevational view of the endless conveyor and associatedvacuum/air pressure manifold, illustrating their structural relationshipto the mandrel carrier and drying oven conveyor;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of a check valveemployed in the vacuum/air pressure manifold; and

FIG. 9 is an enlargedsectional view illustrating one of the can holdersemployed in the transfer assembly of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, thetransferassembly 1 of the present invention is positioned between a drying ovenconveyor 2 and :a continuously rotating mandrel carrier assembly 3 ofthe type disclosed in our aforementioned copending application Ser. No.739,049, filed Jun. 21, 1968. Undecorated containers 4 are fed down aninclined chute 5 to a worm screw 6 where they are separated and fed to afeed wheel 7. From the feed wheel, each container is deposited on arespective cradle 8 formed on the peripheral edge of a rotatable disc 9,each of the cradles being aligned with a respective mandrel 10 (FIG. 7)mounted on a carrier 11. As described in our copending application, eachundecorated container is mechanically 'wiped from its cradle onto theouter end portion of a respective mandrel whereupon avacuum source drawsthe container completely onto the mandrel. The containercarryingmandrels, being rotated in a clockwise direction, as indicatedby the arrow in FIG. I, then approach the decorating cycle where thecontainers are sequentially coated or printed by the cylinder 12 of aconventionalprinting machine 13. During this portion of the operation,each container carrying mandrel is caused to follow a path parallel tothesurface of the impression blanket of the cylinder 12, while thecontainer is being pressed into engagement with the impression blanket.

The continued rotation of the mandrel carrier brings the decoratedcontainer to a transfer point adjacent the transfer assembly I whereuponthe decorated can is transferred thereto and conveyed to apositionadjacent the drying oven conveyor 2 for transfer thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, the transfer assembly 1 comprises a pairofspaced, longitudinally extending frame members l4 and 15 having-shaftsl6 and 17 extending transversely thereto and journaled within each endportion of the frame members. Shaft 16 has a pair of idler sprocketwheelslS journaled on each end thereof through suitable bearings 19(FIG. 5), and shaft I7 has a pair of drive sprockets 20 keyed thereon asat 21 (FIG. 6), power being transmitted to drive shaft 17 through atransmission belt 22 (FIG. 2) extending between a drive pulley 23,secured to the shaft of a motor 24, and a driven pulley 25 secured tothe end of shaft I7. An endless chain conveyor 26 extends between eachdrive sprocket 20 and its associated idler sprocket l8, and as will beseen in FIGS. 3 and 7,certain of the chain links in one of the conveyorshave pins 27 extending transversely to a corresponding link in theopposite conveyor. Can holder assemblies or carriages 28 are mounted onthe pins 27 and are laterally slidable thereon relative to the conveyorchains 26 through a cam follower 29, connected to each can holderassembly, and positioned within a suitably configured groove in camplates 30 and 31 (FIG. 7) secured to the frame members I4 and 15 bybolts 32 (FIG. 7). Each of the cam plates 30 and 31 extendlongitudinally along the upper and lower runs, respectively, of thechain conveyors 26, the ends of the cam plates terminating adjacentgrooved wheels 33 and 34 mounted on shafts I6 and 17, respectively;wheel 33 being rotatably mounted on shaft 316 through bearings 35 (FIG.5) and wheel 34 beingkeycd as at 36 to shaft 17. As will be seen inFIGS. 4, 5 and .6, the grooved wheels are mounted on their respectiveshafts in such a position that the grooves are aligned with the groovesin the cam plates 30 and 3.1 to thereby provide a continuous track forthe cam followers 29 for their travel along the upper and lower runs ofthe chainconveyors' and around the sprocket wheels 18 and 20.

In the operation of the transfer assembly, thus far described, it willbe readily understood that upon rotation of the drive shaft 17 theendless chain conveyors will carry the can holders 28 around an endlesspath, while the cam followers 29, riding in the cam grooves, will causethe can holders to slide laterally on pins 27 to thereby move each canholder into proximity to the mandrel for the removal of a decorated cantherefrom, and to the drying oven conveyor 2 for the depositing of adecorated can thereon.

In order that each can holder 28 will be aligned with a respectivemandrel 10 to facilitate the transfer of a decorated can from themandrel, the upper run of each endless chain conveyor 26 is caused tofollow an arcuate path concentric to the path of the mandrel carrier 11.As will be seen in FIGS. 3 and 7, this arcuate path is defined by plates37 and 38 bolted as at 39 to frame members 14 and 15, respectively. Theupper edges of plates 37 and 38 are arcuately configured and cooperatewith similarly configured lower edges of plates 40 and 41, spaced aboveplates 37 and 38 and secured thereto by gusset plates 42.

The lower run of each endless chain conveyor 26 is guided in a straightpath by a track formed by the lower edges of plates 37 and 38 and theupper edges of plates 43 and 44 spaced therefrom and secured to plates37 and 38 by gusset plates 45.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, each can holder 28 comprises a piston 46slidably mounted within a cylindrical housing 47. A suction cup 48 issecured to the end of the piston which projects outwardly from thecylindrical housing, the cup communicating with one end of alongitudinal bore 49 formed in the piston, the opposite end of the borecommunicating with a transverse bore 50 which, in turn, communicateswith an annular chamber 51 defined by the outer peripheral wall ofpiston 46 and the inner peripheral wall of a bearing sleeve 52 mountedwithin the cylindrical housing. Annular chamber 51 is also incommunication with the atmosphere through port 53 extending through thewall of housing 47. The inward and outward travel of piston 46 relativeto the cylindrical housing is limited by flange 54, integrally formed onthe piston, and engageable with a shoulder 55 formed in the medialportion of the cylindrical housing and with a collar 56 secured to theouter end of the housing. The inner end portion of the housing is formedwith a chamber 57 having a smaller diameter than chamber 51 forreceiving the inner end portion of piston 46, which is slidably receivedwithin a bearing sleeve 58 mounted within the housing. As will be seenin FIG. 7, bearing sleeve 58 maintains the outer peripheral wall of thepiston 46 spaced from the inner peripheral wall of the chamber 57 tothereby provide a clearance 59 so that chamber 57 will be incommunication with transverse bore 50 when the piston has been moved toits inward position. The inner end wall of housing 47 is provided withan aperture 60 for receiving the end of a tubular conduit 61 throughwhich chamber 57 can be either pressurized or placed under vacuum, to bedescribed more fully hereinafter. The wall of the housing 47 is alsoprovided with a spring-biased check valve 62 which is adapted to openwhen chamber 57 is pressurized and closed when chamber 57 is undervacuum. To complete the structure of the can holders, a dependingpedestal 63 is integrally formed on each housing 28, the lower end ofthe pedestal having a hub portion 64 slidably mounted on the pins 27,the cam followers 29 being connected to the hub portions.

In the operation of the can holders thus far described, it will bereadily apparent that when chamber 57 is pressurized, piston 46 will bemoved outwardly of housing 47 and when under vacuum the piston will bedrawn inwardly of the housing. The placing of chamber 57 under pressureand vacuum is determined by the position of each can holder 28 relativeto the mandrel carrier 11 and drying oven conveyor 2. As will be seen inFIG. 7, when a can carrying mandrel 10 passes an air pressure nozzle 65the decorated can is blown from the mandrel toward the can holdersuction cup 48 which is aligned with the mandrel. As the can is beingblown from the mandrel,

chamber 57 is maintained under vacuum and since bores 49 and 50communicate with chamber 57, the interior of the suction cup 48 is alsoplaced under vacuum whereby the can is drawn completely off the mandreland held by the suction cup 48 engaging the bottom of the can. The cancarrying holder 28 is then conveyed to a conventional chain-pin-typedrying oven conveyor 2 whereupon chamber 57 is pressurized to move thepiston outwardly of the housing to thereby deposit the can on a pin 66on the conveyor. As willbe seen in FIG. 9, when piston 46 has been movedto its extended position, bores 49 and 50 are in communication withchamber 51 which is under atmospheric pressure through port 53; thus,the suction cup loses its holding force on the bottom of the can sinceit too will be under atmospheric pressure.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, the assembly for placing chamber 57 of eachcan holder under pressure and vacuum comprises, a disc-type manifold 67secured to a rotatable shaft 68 journaled in the upper end of a supportframe 69 through bearings 70. Rotation is imparted to shaft 68 through adrive belt 71 connected between a drive pulley 72 secured to the shaftof motor 24, and a driven pulley 73 secured to the shaft 68. Shaft 68has an axially extending bore 74 formed therein having one endcommunicating with a fitting 75, adapted to be connected to a vacuumsource, the opposite end of the bore communicating with a centrallydisposed chamber 76 formed in the manifold disc. A plurality of radiallyextending passages 77 are also formed in manifold disc 67, each passagehaving one end communicating with chamber 76 and the opposite endcommunicating with a pipe 78. One end of each pipe is threaded into theouter peripheral wall of the manifold and the opposite end is connectedto the tubular conduit 61. Each radial passage 77 has an axial ortransverse passage 79 extending therethrough which contains aspring-biased spool valve 80. Another transverse passage 81 is formed inthe manifold disc which has one end communicating with the portion ofradial passage 77 adjacent the end of the pipe 78 and the opposite endcommunicating with a radial passage 82 which has one end communicatingwith transverse passage 79 and the opposite end closed by a condensatedrain plug 83.

Each of the spool valves is biased to the right, as shown in FIG. 7,against a ring member 84 secured to the face of the manifold disc, andhaving a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 85 therein.Each of the apertures 85 is aligned with a respective spool valve 80 forestablishing communication between the valve and an air pressure nozzle86. As will be seen in FIG. 2, the nozzle 86 is carried by an arcuatearm 87 which is secured to the support 69 by bolts 88 extending throughslots 89 formed in the end portions of the arm whereby the nozzle isadjustably mounted on the support 69 to thereby maintain the nozzle 86inalignment with the apertures 85. As will be seen in FIG. 7, one end ofthe nozzle 86 is connected to air pressure conduit 90 and the oppositeend of the nozzle is provided with an antifriction material 91 againstwhich the ring member 84 slides during rotation of the manifold disc 67.

From the above description, it will be readily apparent that chamber 57of each can holder will be placed under vacuum when its respective spoolvalve 80 is biased to the right, to open position as shown in FIG. -7,the vacuum being drawn through conduit 61, pipe 78, valve 80, passage77, and bore 74. The chamber 57 is placed under pressure when themanifold disc 67 has been rotated to position the spool valve 80adjacent the air pressure nozzle 86; whereupon the air pressure forcesthe spool valve 80 to the left, or closed position, as shown in FIG. 8,to cut off the vacuum to pipe 78. While the valve is maintained in thisposition, pressurized air flows through aperture 85, passage 81 and pipe78 to the chamber 57 through conduit 61.

The operation of the transfer assembly of the present invention will bebest understood by referring to FIGv 7 wherein it will be seen that whenthe mandrel carrier 11 moves past the air pressure nozzle 65, eachdecorated can 4 is sequentially blown from the mandrel 10 toward one ofthe suction cups 48 carried by a can holder 28. The bottom of the can isheld against the suction cup through vacuurn which communicates with thecup through bores 49 and 50 in. the piston 46, clearance 59, chamber 57,conduit 61, pipe 78, open spool valve 80, passage 77, chamber 76 in thedisc manifold and bore 74 in rotary shaft 68. With each can thus held ona respective holder, the endless chain conveyor 26 moves the cancarrying holders 28 around to the oven drying conveyor 2. During thetravel of the chain conveyor, the cam plates 30 and 31 cause the canholders to slide laterally on the pins 27 to facilitate the removal ofthe decorated can from the mandrel and the depositing of the can on thepin 66 of the ovendrying conveyor 2. i

The chainconveyor 26 and manifold disc 67 are simultaneously rotatedsothat when each can carrying holder 28 is positioned adjacent a pin 66 onthe oven drying conveyor 2, the spool valve 80 will be aligned with theair pressure nozzle 86-,

whereby the spool valve is moved to cutoff the vacuum to the holder,thereby allowing. pressurized air to flow to the can holder 28 to forcethe piston 46 outwardly therefromwhereby the decorated can is pushedonto the pin 66 of the ovendrying conveyor. When the manifold disc 67moves past the nozzle 86, the spool valve 80 will be spring biasedtoopen position to thereby establish communication between the vacuumsource and the can holder 28 which is carried by the endless chainconveyor 26 back to the mandrel carrier 11 toreceive another decoratedcan therefrom; whereupon the cycle is repeated;

Since the transfer assembly of the present invention is adapted to i beused with a continuous container printing machine, it will be understoodby those skilled in theart that the can holder conveyor and associatedmanifold disc are continuously rotated and their structural relationshipbetweenthe mandrel carrier and oven drying conveyor is such that whenadecorated can isbeing transferred from a mandrel to a can holder,another can is being simultaneously transferred from a holder to theoven drying conveyor.

We claim:

1. A transfer assembly for sequentially transferringdecorated'containers from a mandrel carrier to a drying oven conveyorcomprising, a conveyor, pneumatically actuated container holder meansmounted on saidconveyor, pneumatic manifold means connected to saidcontainer holder means, said pneumatic manifold means comprising, adisc, a drive shaft connected to said disc for imparting rotary movementthereto coincident with the movement of the conveyor, a plurality ofradially extending passages formed in said disc, a vacuum sourcebeingconnected to said radial passages, a plurality of transversepassages formed in said disc, each transverse passage communicating witha respective radial passage, a source of fluid pressure being mountedadjacent the rotary disc and being sequentially aligned with eachtransverse passage as the disc is rotated past the fluid pressuresource,whereby when connected to the vacuum source, the container holder meansis actuated to remove a decorated container from the mandrel carrier,and when connected to the fluid pressure source the container holdermeans is actuated to place a decorated container on the drying ovenconveyor.

2. A transfer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the containerholder means comprises, a plurality of cylindrical housings, eachhousing having a piston slidably mounted therein, a suction cup securedto one end of the piston and projecting outwardly from one end of thehousing, the opposite end of the housing being connected to thepneumatic manifold means, whereby the suction cup is adapted to engagethe bottom of the decorated container being removed from the mandrelcarrier, and when the housing is connected to the vacuum source thepiston is drawn inwardly thereof, and when connected to the fluidpressure source the piston is moved outwardly of the housing.

3. A transfer assembly according to claim 2, wherein bores are formedwithin the piston communicating with the interior of the suction cup andsaid opposite end of the housing, whereby, when the housing is connectedto the source of vacuum the interior of the suction cup is also placedunder.

plurality. ofhorizontally disposed pins carried by the chain assembly,each housing having a depending pedestal slidably rnounted on said pins,a cam follower mounted on each pedestal, said cam follower engaging astationary cam mounted adjacent the conveyor, whereby upon movement oftheconveyor, the cam causes each housing to slide laterally on theconveyor relative to the mandrel carrier and dryingoven conveyor.

5. A transfer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control means,comprises valve means mounted within each transverse passage.

6. A transfer assembly according to claim 5, wherein the valve meanscomprises a spring-biased spool valve, said valve being normally biasedto open position to establish communication between the vacuum sourceand the container holder means, the spool valve beingmoved to closedposition by the fluid pressure when the transverse passage is alignedwith the source of fluid pressure.

71A transfer assembly according to claim 6, wherein additional radialand transverse passages are formed in the disc adjacent the valve meansfor establishing communication between the source of fluid pressure andcontainer holder means when the spool valve is moved to closed position;

8. A transfer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the source of fluidpressure includes a nozzle adjustably mounted on a support framepositioned adjacent the rotary disc, the end of the nozzle havingantifriction material formed thereon adapted to abut the surface of therotary disc.

9. A transfer' assembly for sequentially transferring decoratedcontainers from a mandrel carrier to'a dryingoven conveyor comprising, aconveyor, pneumatically actuated container holder meansmounted on saidconveyor, pneumatic manifold means connected to said container holdermeans, saidpneumatic manifold means being connected to a vacuum sourceand a source of fluid pressure, and control means operatively connectedto said manifold means for selectively establishing communicationbetween the container holder means and the vacuum source and fluidpressure source, said container holder means comprising, a plurality ofcylindricalhousings, each housing havinga piston slidably mountedtherein, a suction cup secured to one end of the piston and projectingoutwardly from one end of the housing, the opposite end of the housingbeing connected to the pneumatic manifold means, and bore means formedwithin the piston communicating with the interior of the suction cup andsaid opposite end of the housing, whereby the suction cup is adapted toengage the bottom of a decorated container on the mandrel carrier, andwhen the housing is connected to the vacuum source the interior of thesuction cup is also placed under vacuum and the piston is drawn inwardlyof the housing to thereby removethedecorated container from the mandrelcarrier, and when connected to the fluid pressure source the piston ismoved outwardly of the housing for placing the decorated container onthe drying oven conveyor.

10. A transfer assembly according to claim 9 wherein the pneumaticmanifold means comprises, a disc, a drive shaft connected to said discfor imparting rotary movement thereto coincident with the movement ofthe conveyor, a plurality of radially extending passages formed in saiddisc, said radial passages being connected to the vacuum source,aplurality of transverse passages formed in said disc, each transversepassage communicating with a respective radial passage, the source offluid, pressure being mounted adjacent the rotary disc and beingsequentially aligned with each transverse passage as the disc is rotatedpast the fluid pressure source.

11. A transfer assembly according to claim 10 wherein the control means,comprises valve means mounted within each transverse passage.

12. A transfer assembly according to claim 11, wherein the valvemeanscomprises a spring-biased spool valve, said valve being normally biasedto open position to establish communication between the vacuum sourceand the container holder means, the spool valve being moved to closedposition by the on a support frame positioned adjacent the rotary disc,the end of the nozzle having antifriction material formed thereonadapted to abut the surface of the rotary disc.

15. A transfer assembly according to claim 9, wherein the conveyorcomprises an endless sprocket and chain assembly, a plurality ofhorizontally disposed pins carried by the chain assembly, each housinghaving a depending pedestal slidably mounted on said pins, a camfollower mounted on each pedestal, said cam follower engaging astationary cam mounted adjacent the conveyor, whereby upon movement ofthe conveyor, the cam causes each housing to slide laterally on theconveyor relative to the mandrel carrier and drying oven conveyor.

1. A transfer assembly for sequentially transferring decoratedcontainers from a mandrel carrier to a drying oven conveyor comprising,a conveyor, pneumatically actuated container holder means mounted onsaid conveyor, pneumatic manifold means connected to said containerholder means, said pneumatic manifold means comprising, a disc, a driveshaft Connected to said disc for imparting rotary movement theretocoincident with the movement of the conveyor, a plurality of radiallyextending passages formed in said disc, a vacuum source being connectedto said radial passages, a plurality of transverse passages formed insaid disc, each transverse passage communicating with a respectiveradial passage, a source of fluid pressure being mounted adjacent therotary disc and being sequentially aligned with each transverse passageas the disc is rotated past the fluid pressure source, whereby whenconnected to the vacuum source, the container holder means is actuatedto remove a decorated container from the mandrel carrier, and whenconnected to the fluid pressure source the container holder means isactuated to place a decorated container on the drying oven conveyor. 2.A transfer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the container holdermeans comprises, a plurality of cylindrical housings, each housinghaving a piston slidably mounted therein, a suction cup secured to oneend of the piston and projecting outwardly from one end of the housing,the opposite end of the housing being connected to the pneumaticmanifold means, whereby the suction cup is adapted to engage the bottomof the decorated container being removed from the mandrel carrier, andwhen the housing is connected to the vacuum source the piston is drawninwardly thereof, and when connected to the fluid pressure source thepiston is moved outwardly of the housing.
 3. A transfer assemblyaccording to claim 2, wherein bores are formed within the pistoncommunicating with the interior of the suction cup and said opposite endof the housing, whereby, when the housing is connected to the source ofvacuum the interior of the suction cup is also placed under vacuum.
 4. Atransfer assembly according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor comprisesan endless sprocket and chain assembly, a plurality of horizontallydisposed pins carried by the chain assembly, each housing having adepending pedestal slidably mounted on said pins, a cam follower mountedon each pedestal, said cam follower engaging a stationary cam mountedadjacent the conveyor, whereby upon movement of the conveyor, the camcauses each housing to slide laterally on the conveyor relative to themandrel carrier and drying oven conveyor.
 5. A transfer assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the control means, comprises valve meansmounted within each transverse passage.
 6. A transfer assembly accordingto claim 5, wherein the valve means comprises a spring-biased spoolvalve, said valve being normally biased to open position to establishcommunication between the vacuum source and the container holder means,the spool valve being moved to closed position by the fluid pressurewhen the transverse passage is aligned with the source of fluidpressure.
 7. A transfer assembly according to claim 6, whereinadditional radial and transverse passages are formed in the discadjacent the valve means for establishing communication between thesource of fluid pressure and container holder means when the spool valveis moved to closed position.
 8. A transfer assembly according to claim1, wherein the source of fluid pressure includes a nozzle adjustablymounted on a support frame positioned adjacent the rotary disc, the endof the nozzle having antifriction material formed thereon adapted toabut the surface of the rotary disc.
 9. A transfer assembly forsequentially transferring decorated containers from a mandrel carrier toa drying oven conveyor comprising, a conveyor, pneumatically actuatedcontainer holder means mounted on said conveyor, pneumatic manifoldmeans connected to said container holder means, said pneumatic manifoldmeans being connected to a vacuum source and a source of fluid pressure,and control means operatively connected to said manifold means forselectively establishing communication between the container holdermeans and the vacuum source and fluid pressure source, said contAinerholder means comprising, a plurality of cylindrical housings, eachhousing having a piston slidably mounted therein, a suction cup securedto one end of the piston and projecting outwardly from one end of thehousing, the opposite end of the housing being connected to thepneumatic manifold means, and bore means formed within the pistoncommunicating with the interior of the suction cup and said opposite endof the housing, whereby the suction cup is adapted to engage the bottomof a decorated container on the mandrel carrier, and when the housing isconnected to the vacuum source the interior of the suction cup is alsoplaced under vacuum and the piston is drawn inwardly of the housing tothereby remove the decorated container from the mandrel carrier, andwhen connected to the fluid pressure source the piston is movedoutwardly of the housing for placing the decorated container on thedrying oven conveyor.
 10. A transfer assembly according to claim 9wherein the pneumatic manifold means comprises, a disc, a drive shaftconnected to said disc for imparting rotary movement thereto coincidentwith the movement of the conveyor, a plurality of radially extendingpassages formed in said disc, said radial passages being connected tothe vacuum source, a plurality of transverse passages formed in saiddisc, each transverse passage communicating with a respective radialpassage, the source of fluid pressure being mounted adjacent the rotarydisc and being sequentially aligned with each transverse passage as thedisc is rotated past the fluid pressure source.
 11. A transfer assemblyaccording to claim 10 wherein the control means, comprises valve meansmounted within each transverse passage.
 12. A transfer assemblyaccording to claim 11, wherein the valve means comprises a spring-biasedspool valve, said valve being normally biased to open position toestablish communication between the vacuum source and the containerholder means, the spool valve being moved to closed position by thefluid pressure when the transverse passage is aligned with the source offluid pressure.
 13. A transfer assembly according to claim 12, whereinadditional radial and transverse passages are formed in the discadjacent the valve means for establishing communication between thesource of fluid pressure and container holder means when the spool valveis moved to closed position.
 14. A transfer assembly according to claim10, wherein the source of fluid pressure includes a nozzle adjustablymounted on a support frame positioned adjacent the rotary disc, the endof the nozzle having antifriction material formed thereon adapted toabut the surface of the rotary disc.
 15. A transfer assembly accordingto claim 9, wherein the conveyor comprises an endless sprocket and chainassembly, a plurality of horizontally disposed pins carried by the chainassembly, each housing having a depending pedestal slidably mounted onsaid pins, a cam follower mounted on each pedestal, said cam followerengaging a stationary cam mounted adjacent the conveyor, whereby uponmovement of the conveyor, the cam causes each housing to slide laterallyon the conveyor relative to the mandrel carrier and drying ovenconveyor.